Not Your Ordinary Blog Post…

I’ve been putting off writing this blog post because quite frankly telling the story of Kyle and how we’ve come to know and love his family is a daunting task.  One of huge responsibility and honor, and challenge.  I don’t know where to start and it’s hard because I know that words just won’t suffice.

Kyle was the nameless, faceless 10-year old boy that my husband John felt incredibly connected to on a personal level having never met him or even knowing where he lived. After all, all John needed to know was that this boy had leukemia and somehow he was one of Kyle’s only shots left at beating this thing.  You see, almost 10 years ago John signed up to be on a bone marrow registry.  He was contacted in 2010 as the strongest match possible for Kyle and in a heartbeat, John agreed to go through the process of donating stem cells for a transplant to occur within days.  The opportunity to help a young boy meant SO much to John and he spoke of this nameless boy often over the last 15 months as we got pre-generated updates from his doctors as to how he was doing. When we would hear that he was doing well, we rejoiced.  And when we heard he wasn’t, John somehow felt personally responsible.  John often spoke of his hope to some day hear from the family.

That day came in April and was not quite the phone call John was mentally prepared for.  John spoke with Kyle’s mother who thanked him up and down for giving them another year with their son.  She went on to say however, that Kyle had relapsed about 6 months after the transplant and at this point, 7 years into this fight, his body can not take anymore treatment.  The hardest decision a parent could ever make with their child was made and Kyle would have a few more weeks to live.  One of the last things he wanted to do was to meet John.  It’s almost difficult to write about the extent to which this experience was humbling in every way.  John was willing to drop everything and fly to where they live, however they decided to make the trip to see us.  It would end up being Kyle’s last trip, and somehow we have the honor of being the ones he chose to visit.

We also knew that by allowing him and his family into our lives that weekend, we were opening ourselves up to falling in love with this little boy who we knew did not have much time left.  We didn’t give it a second’s thought but knew in the back of our minds… what we weren’t prepared for was how immediately this family would become our family.  John did his best to prepare an amazing weekend for Kyle, and the weekend itself is an experience worth an entirely separate story.  My mini-sessions happened to be scheduled for the Saturday they were here and I was *honored beyond imagine* to capture some images for this family.  It was not beyond me what these pictures were- or what they might be worth in an unfortunately near future.  I’ve never been so nervous to mess up a shoot.

They left on Monday morning and it was Friday that John got the call that Kyle had a fever and possible infection.  He got in the car and headed north.  I wish I could have John write about his final four days with Kyle, but all I can say is I know he came home a changed man.  I believe it’s safe to say on behalf of all that knew Kyle, that you couldn’t get to know him and NOT be a changed person.   That’s what he did.  Changed lives.  He showed us all how to live.

As Kyle’s father put it, our families our bound not only by blood, but by love.

“Brothers til the end.”

Although he won’t physically be there, Kyle is still fighting for his cause and collecting for his Relay for Life team.  The event is this weekend and you can donate here.

To learn more about the Bone Marrow Donor Program or to join the registry, PLEASE visit Be The Match. You could be the difference and we’ve seen first hand the amazing gift you can give.

Also, I am highly encouraged by this experience professionally and will offer free family portraits for families with terminally ill children.  Fellow photographers, please check out Caraway Kids on Facebook and volunteer for your area.